AK-47
Gunsmith Videos
AK47 rifles & AK47 pistols
fitted and ready for finishing |
We
worked with and filmed Chris Horn as he builds
AK47 rifles and AK47 pistols at his workshop
near Flagstaff, AZ. We've taken hours of
building AK47s and boiled it down to the
parts you might need help with. We've broken
down the assembly of a US made AK47 into
steps that we will illustrate with tips
and instruction on video DVD.
Since
no one in the US has the same equipment
they use in Russia or Europe, US builders
have developed multiple methods of building
their US made AK47s. For
previews - click here
This
one is no longer available, but thanks
for looking |
Part One of our series on US AK47 builders
- Chris Horn's AK47 building method
AK47 rifles & AK47 pistols
fitted and ready for finishing |
We worked with and filmed Chris Horn
as he builds AK47 rifles and AK47 pistols at his
workshop near Flagstaff, AZ. We've taken hours
of building AK47s and boiled it down to the parts
you might need help with. We've broken down the
assembly of a US made AK47 into steps that we
will illustrate with tips and instruction on video
DVD.
Since no one in the US has the same equipment
they use in Russia or Europe, US builders have
developed multiple methods of building their US
made AK47s.
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On this page you'll see what is covered on this
DVD. It's not every single step of building an AK47,
but we wanted to get the video out to people who have
been interested and waiting for it. We'll be adding
some missing steps, and we'll address more common questions
in the next revision available soon. And anyone who
orders our first run of DVDs will get a special price
on our second (more complete) video when it's available
so you won't be missing out on any steps if you buy
one of our first runs.
You'll get 45 minutes of instruction on building an
AK47 with Chris Horn. This isn't a fancy high production
value movie. It's a down and dirty instructional video
for the home builder of gunsmith new to the AK47 rifle.
The DVD plays on any DVD player and computers with a
DVD drive. Since it's on DVD you can easily pause or
rewind to catch anything you might miss along the way
Keep in mind all information and
photos are for informational use, our instructions are
not an attempt to include every aspect of building a
safe rifle. No amount
of explanation can replace experience. We worked with
Chris Horn who has built literally thousands of AK47
rifles and AK47 pistols in the last few years. His skill
at building quality rifles is a result of his interest,
abilities and proper tools to do the job.
Choosing
a AK47 Parts Kit
There are many AK47 parts kits out there
for sale, deciding which to buy can be a tough
choice. First consider what type of finished rifle
you would like to end up with. After that things
to look for are quality of parts, matching numbers
on the parts which indicates the parts kit was
once a complete rifle not just spare parts thrown
together. The best way in our opinion to ensure
you are buying a quality kit is to do some research
first, then buy the kit in person so you can inspect
the barrel, bolt and other parts for use and age.
Many of the Romanian AK47 parts kits (which are
among the least expensive and of high quality)
are dated so you can easily determine the age
of the original rifle. |
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Most complete kits come in the same plastic bag they
used when they disassembled the AK47 originally. If
your parts kit comes in a box or just loose parts, be
extra careful to ensure your kit is made up of parts
from one AK47 and not just spare parts from past builds,
collections, etc.
Also keep in mind the laws
in your city, county, state and country. Make sure it
is legal or you to build your AK47. Learn what parts
are OK and which are not. For example, the full auto
trigger group included with many kits is not legal anywhere
in the US to use for building. In addition you'll need
to use 25% US made parts on your complete rifle.
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Taking
apart the AK47 Parts Kit
Now that you've chosen a good kit, and
are ready to start on your AK47 build, you'll
need to remove some parts from many of the AK47
parts kits available today. Some kits have these
steps done for you, some kits were never made
into rifles and these steps wouldn't be required.
First remove all the parts from the
bag your kit came in. Look over the parts for
defects, areas worn from use, or missing parts.
Remove the full auto trigger parts that wouldn't
be legal to use for your build. |
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Next steps involve tools, here we go. Take
the wood parts off the front end unit (top & bottom
handguards) also remove the cleaning rod if your AK47
parts kit included one.Also remove the wooden stock
assuming that you have one of those. Your left with
all the metal parts from the original AK47, a few are
still attached to the old parts of the original receiver
usually.
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So the next step is the trigger guard
and safety selector stop plate. Put the magazine
catch into a vice. First go after the 4 rivets
together in the front. Grind the rivets from the
inside of the original receiver to avoid any permanent
marks to your new rifle. Grind the heads all the
way off and since you won't need the piece of
original receiver, if you grind into it a bit
that's OK. Next pry the old receiver piece off.
Grind the rivets again to make removing the safety
selector stop plate easier. Use a cold chisel
to pry the safety stop off the trigger guard,
then grind the rivets again to make popping them
through the trigger guard easier without bending
the metal. |
Next remove the rear rivet to remove the
trigger guard from the old receiver. It's pretty easy,
just be careful not to bend the trigger guard in the
process.
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Tip:
Watch the trigger guard during disassembly, sometimes
on torch cut AK47 parts kilts the trigger guard
is weakened from the heat and it can bend or break
easily. Use caution and go slowly so you keep your
trigger guard in good shape. |
On the rear end of that same receiver piece
you'll need to remove the rivets and pry off the old
receiver that remains. The trunion is hardened, so you
won't damage it it the process. As before the old receiver
is not going to be used again so if you grind into it,
it will just make prying off the receiver easier.
Once the receiver is removed from the rear
trunion, you'll need to drill out the rivets. they go
straight through, so a drill press would work, but a
mill is much stronger if you have access to one. The
trunion is hardened so you probably won't hurt it during
the drilling but you might break a few bits learning
this step.
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Folding
the US AK47 receiver from a flat
If you really want to build the whole gun yourself
you'll want to know how to bend the receiver from
a flat. Chris uses common bending tools along
with a custom made jig (fixture). Starting with
a standard flat receiver
Chris bends the new receiver into shape with a
jig and an inexpensive press. After pressing the
basic shape the rails are bent over with a hammer
and soft metal block. The trigger pin holes are
also attended too after bending. |
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Setting
rails in place, support pin, drilling holes
After folding the receiver it's time to
add rails, extractor and center pin. A spot welder is
the preferred method for attaching the side rails, but
you can also use rivets. screws or tack welds to attach
the rails. Whichever method you use, be sure to heat
treat your new receiver after bending and attaching
rails. After hardening your receiver will last for a
long time though many shooting sessions.
This video still in production
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Removing
the barrel
First you take out the barrel pin,
then take the rifle to a press and use a soft
metal rod to push the barrel out. Sounds easy
and it really is a simple operation. Just be careful
not to damage the barrel or trunion in the process. |
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Installing
trunions into the US AK47 receiver
Installing the trunions is probably
the most difficult step in the process (aside
from bending the receiver) mostly because a specialty
tool is required to press the rivets. Using a
rivet tool is the preferred method of the professionals.
Using hard steel rivets and installing them correctly
is the the line that divides a professional AK47
build from a junk build and display items. |
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Video
Available on how to
Installing trunions into the US AK47 receiver
www.AK47videos.com
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Installing
the trigger guard & magazine latch
More rivets are used to attach the trigger
guard & magazine latch. Using a small jig
(fixture) to hold the rivets in the receiver makes
installing these rivets easy with an air hammer
or press. |
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Installing
the barrel
Pressing the barrel back into place
requires either an angle iron, or simple fixture
to hold the trunion while the barrel is pushed
back into place. using the barrel pin hole as
a guide press the barrel back into it's original
position. |
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Installing
the Trigger Group
Installing a US trigger group is easier
than an original trigger and gives you 3 US parts. US
trigger groups also shoot better in most people opinion.
Once your receiver holes are correct, installing the
trigger group is easy after the first few attempts.
Use a complete trigger assembly as a guide if possible.
First put the hammer spring on the hammer and wrap the
arms around the flat part of the hammer, slide it into
place between the rails and push it's pin through the
receiver to hold the hammer in place.
Next assemble the trigger and disconnect
with the spring from your parts kit. On many US parts
kits there is a round sleeve that hold these parts together
and this system can be placed into the receiver easily.
Or hold these parts together and drop them into the
receiver and pin them as the hammer.
Drop the hammer spring arms down and hook the hammer
on both sides. Test the trigger by holding down
the trigger and cycling the bolt. Watch in the gap to
see if the hammer is falling only one per trigger pull.
Some US triggers are adjustable so the draw weight of
the trigger can be changed to your preference.
This video still in production
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Troubleshooting
and Test Firing
Chatting after the build about common problems encountered
while building. How to move receiver holes, how to change
the front sight post, how to remove the wood from the
front of the AK47.
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Finishing
the AK47
After your AK47 is built there are various
ways to finish the rifle. Add a AR style stock, rails
to hold lights and sights. Add a bolt hold open on the
safety lever. Make your AK47 look the way you want it
to.
This video still in production
Bolt
Hold Open
One of the things about using an AK47 at
a public shooting range is it's lack of
a bolt hold open. Most ranges require all
rifles to be opened and unloaded during
a cease fire, and typically the only option
for an AK47 shooter is to hold the bolt
back with a spent round or plastic chamber
block. Chris devised a simple modification
to the AK47 safety lever that will allow
the bolt to safely stay back with the chamber
open and visible. |
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This means you can step away from your rifle on
a range and the line safety guys can see that
your AK47 is unloaded easily.
Another feature of the modified AK47 safety lever
is the 'quick release' found in other rifles that
have a bolt hold open feature. You can load a
full magazine, and simply drop the safety then
you are ready to shoot in almost no time
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Final
assembly
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